The short answer
Three products carry the same oil label (EPAX) and offer different formulas: 1,520 mg of EPA in one, 150 mg in another, ten times less, for almost identical DHA, and 800 mg at Novoma, between the two. The label guarantees the quality of the oil, not the ratio, and the ratio is what determines what the product is for. The Anses reference (the French food safety agency) is 250 mg of DHA and 500 mg of EPA+DHA a day: all three exceed it, in very different ways.
The label says nothing about the formula
EPAX is a fish oil purified by molecular distillation, with a controlled oxidation index. When brands display it, they start from the same raw material. What they do with it is completely different.
| Product | EPA / dose | DHA / dose | Ratio | EPA+DHA | Share of the 500 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrimuscle, Oméga 3 Epax® (4 capsules) | 1,520 mg | 760 mg | 2:1 in favour of EPA | 2,280 mg | 456% |
| Novoma, Oméga 3 Epax® (4 capsules) | 800 mg | 600 mg | 4:3 in favour of EPA | 1,400 mg | 280% |
| Nutri&Co, Oméga-3 EPAX (3 capsules) | 150 mg | 750 mg | 1:5 in favour of DHA | 900 mg | 180% |
On DHA, all three comfortably exceed the 250 mg reference: 760 mg at Nutrimuscle, 750 mg at Nutri&Co, 600 mg at Novoma, which is 2.4 times the reference. DHA is the one behind the claims on vision and brain function, and all three products cover it comfortably.
On EPA, the gap is a factor of ten. A product with 150 mg of EPA and a product with 1,520 mg do not serve the same purpose, and neither says so clearly on its page. If you buy “EPAX omega-3” thinking you are buying the same thing twice, you are mistaken. Novoma offers an intermediate profile: 800 mg of EPA and 600 mg of DHA, which is 40% EPA and 30% DHA in the oil.
How to choose between the two ratios
The short rule: DHA is structural, EPA is functional. DHA builds membranes, notably those of the retina and the brain: it is the one to favour during pregnancy, in children and for maintaining vision. EPA is more involved in the pathways that regulate inflammation, and it is the ratio targeted by sports and cardiovascular nutrition protocols. Our guide to the roles and sources of omega-3 explains this difference in detail.
In practice: a DHA-led formula suits anyone looking for the general reference without excess; an EPA-led formula is only worthwhile if you specifically aim for a high EPA intake, and you pay for it in the dose. A balanced formula like Novoma’s suits anyone who wants both without aiming for the maximum EPA.
The price, per gram of omega-3 delivered
Comparing the price of the pot means nothing when products deliver 2,280, 1,400 or 900 mg per dose. The honest unit is the price per gram of EPA+DHA.
| Size | Price | Doses | Cost per day | Price per gram of EPA+DHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrimuscle, 600 capsules | 109.95 EUR | 150 | 0.73 EUR | 0.32 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle, 360 capsules | 79.95 EUR | 90 | 0.89 EUR | 0.39 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle, 120 capsules | 30.95 EUR | 30 | 1.03 EUR | 0.45 EUR |
| Novoma, 360 capsules (pack of three bottles) | 64.53 EUR | 90 | 0.72 EUR | 0.51 EUR |
| Nutrimuscle, 60 capsules | 17.95 EUR | 15 | 1.20 EUR | 0.53 EUR |
| Novoma, 120 capsules | 23.90 EUR | 30 | 0.80 EUR | 0.57 EUR |
Size still decides. From the 60-capsule pot to the 600-capsule one, a gram of omega-3 drops from 0.53 to 0.32 EUR, which is 39% less. Omega-3 capsules keep well, provided you store them somewhere cool and away from light: oxidation is the real risk with this family of products.
The TOTOX index, the only readable quality criterion
An oil rich in omega-3 oxidises, and an oxidised oil loses its value while gaining an unpleasant taste. The TOTOX index measures this degree of oxidation: the lower it is, the fresher the oil.
All three products display it, and that is to their credit: Nutrimuscle and Novoma state a TOTOX below 3, Nutri&Co below 10 at the end of production and guaranteed under 26 until the best-before date. The difference between 3 and 10 is real but both values are good; Nutri&Co’s commitment up to the best-before date is, however, more informative than a value measured only at the time of production.
A product that does not publish its TOTOX should not be bought. It is the only criterion in this comparison that separates a good oil from a bad one, and it is easy to check.
Before you buy: sardines cost less
One hundred grams of grilled sardines provide their share of long-chain omega-3 for about one euro, and two portions of oily fish a week are enough to cover the reference. A supplement is genuinely worthwhile if you do not eat fish, or if you aim for a high EPA intake that diet cannot reach. See our pages on sardine and mackerel.
Our sources
- Official Nutrimuscle and Nutri&Co pages, consulted on 24/09/2026, and official Novoma page, consulted on 27/10/2026: oil label, EPA and DHA doses, TOTOX index, sizes and prices.
- Anses: 250 mg of DHA and 500 mg of EPA+DHA a day for adults.
- Prices per gram of EPA+DHA are calculated from these records: price of the size divided by the number of doses, then by the amount of EPA+DHA per dose.